, 1887-10-30
STEWARDS BONES.
Another Chapter in the Great
Stewart Mystery.
A Railroad Conductors CHASTITY
Discovery.
Desperate Fight at a Colored
Camp Meeting.
Another Chapter.

AnOther Chapter.
NEW York, Oct. 29.-The mystery
which has SO long enveloped the fate of
the body of the millionaire dry goods
dealer, Alexander I. Stewart, forms the
subject OF a chapter in Superintendent
Walling's book. The remains were bur-
led in st Mark c~hurchyard, corner of
Second avenue and Tenth street, in an
underground vault, the entrance to which
was covered by a iagstone, which in turn
was sodded over level with the surround
ing surface, so there was no outward ap
pearance of its location.
After the theft of the body the first clue
came from Gen Patrick II. Jones, ex
postmaster of New York, who notified
Walling, then an ex-soldier who had
! served under him, and claimed to know
something about Stewart body and with
proper encouragement would give infor-
nation leading to its recovery. The
superintendent submitted the offer to
Judge Hilton, who declared he would
never pay one cent for MIR. Stewart s
bones unless they came accompanied by
the thieves in irons. Gen. Jones, a few
days later, gave to the police a package
expressed to him from Boston containing
a coffin plate, which was identified by the
engraver who had done the work. To
complete their Identification the robbers
sent a piece of paper that fitted exactly
the hole IN the velvet cover of the coffin
cut out by the thieves when the body was
removed.
Judge Hilton remained unalterable and
the case was dropped by the authorities.
In January, 1882. Gen. Jones called at
headquarters. He brought with him a
parcel which contained the silver knobs
,-l 1o-au.1 - IL l.-l1.. -
the coffin in which the body had been
which he received. They purported to
have been written in Canada, and were
signed by Henry G. Roumaiue." One
letter, which contained the piece of paper,
promised, If further proof was required,
to send the coffin plate upon the insertion
Of certain personals in the New York
Herald. This was done.
Under date of Boston, January 81,
1879, a letter came saying that the plate
was sent from there to avoid the scrutiny
of the customs officials on the Canadian
border. The plate was received and
identified. Gen. Jones was instructed, in
case the relatives were ready to negotiate
for the remains, to insert this personal in
the Herald. ''Canada:-Will do bust.
ness ty counsel" This was done by
Judge Hilton's request. The reply, which
came from Boston on the 18th of Febru-
airy, set forth the terms upon which the
body would be restored.
They we're as follows: Flrst-The
amount to be paid shall be 5000, 900. Sec.
ond-The body will be delivered to your
self and Judge Hilton within twenty-five
miles of the city of Montreal. No other
persons shall be present. Third-The
money to be placed in your hands under
your control until Judge Hilton is fully
satisfied, when you will deliver it TO my
representative. Fourth-Both parties to
maintain forever an unbroken silence in
regart to the transaction. Judge Hilton
refused TO agree to the terms proposed,
aud further declined to negotiate through
the medium of personals"
Roumaine soon ordered Mr.. Jones to
break off all communications with Judge
Hilton and open negotiations with Mrs.
stewart. No notice Was taken of this
request, but in March Judge Hilton made
an offer of $25, 900 tor the body. Gen.
Jones made the fact known to Roumaine,
who respectfully but firmly declined. This
closed the correspondence. The robbers
becoming DISCOURAGED, now offered to sell
the body for 500, 900. Mrs. Stewart was
willing and ordered her representatives to
pay the amount. They delayed matters
until the figure was reduced to $50, 900,
which was accepted. The conditions of
delivery were very severe.
A messenger with the money was to
leave New York City at 10 p. M. alone,
in a one horse wagon and drive into West
Chester county along a lonely road, which
was indicated on a map sent by the
thieves. Seme time before morning, if
the man was acting in good faith and was
not accompanied OF followed by detectives,
he would be met and given further direc
tions. A young relative of Mrs. Stewards
undertook the hazardous task and was
met by the thieves, and after certain for
malities carried out the body was delivered
him the next night.
The body was then conveyed to the ca
thedral. An empty coffin had been al
ready deposited in the cathedral, and at
the dead of night two men transferred the
bones to it from the trunk. They then
placed the coffin in an inaccessible vault
beneath the dome. If anyone should
again touch unbidden the vault which
holds the bones of the merchant million
aire, the touch would release a hidden
spring which would shake the chimes in
the tower and send an instant alarm
throughout the town.
The PLAY To-morrow Night.